The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-24

Connecticut family. He had one brother on the
Supreme Bench Of the United States, and an.
other who was q business man Of uncommon
qualifications. Baldwin, like Creighton, was
admitted to the bar in Chillicothe in 1799 but he
was man Of more varied and shining talents
and rapidly gained name throughout the new
Territory. Baldwin's talents were Of such
brilliant nature that they excited jealousy
among some Of his legal acquaintances, who, It
Is said. encouraged his appetite for whisky in
order that he might become drunkard, and SO
be removed from their paths. From 1903 to 1906
Baldwin did q great deal of legal business, and
did 1t extremely well. After 1903 his name ap-
pears chiefly, says Colonel Gilmore, as the de-
fendant in suits for whisky bills. He must havo
become o confirmed drunkard about this time,
and his fall was very rapid. ses.-
Baldwin filled q number of responsible posi-
tions He was member Of the first Constitu-
tional Convention. and 1t 10 o common tradition
that he wrote almost the whole of our first con-
stitution in the bar-room of VIM. Keys tavern,
using wine keg for his seat and the head of q
whisky barrel for o writing table. II this tale
is true, and Il is by no means improbable, the
instrument that YVES the fundamental law Of
this State for abont half century had queer
origin. ffeB fH
In 16O8-4-5 Baldwin was Speaker of the House
Of Representatives and his convivial habits
were pretty well developed ut that time. 1t is
said that he was then something of card play
er, and that one night he played until .
late hour with party Of rural members of the
Legislature who craved excitement. Baldwin
was banker and dealer and he managed to win
all of the money and all of the watches in the
party. He retired, flushed with his pleasant
victory, and being used to late hours, appeared
In the Speakers chair the next morning at the
usual hour and called the House to order After
time some one demanded call Of the House,
and the fact was officially made known that
there was no quorum present The Sergeantat-
Arms was sent after the absent members, and
in an hour or two he conducted dozen sleepy
looking fellows, Bsldwin's companions at cards,
before the bar Of the House. Baldwin arose in
severity OF manner began to reprimand the half
sober delinQuents for their indifference to the
public wesl and TO the trusts repesed in them
by their constituents. He reminded them of the
great cost to the young State Of each day that
the Legislature was In session, and said they
had no right to consume the time Of the people
in sleep, and was urging them to be more pune
tusl when ono of the half tipsy tsrdy ones ex-
claimed: Hold on, there, Mr.. Speaker How
in - can we be expected TO know the hour
when you have got all our watchesY' 4.
In the meantime Baldwin was sinking deeper
and deeper into debt and becoming more and
more given to the undue use of whisky. His
friends, upon one or two occasions, attempted
to relieve him Of his grave financial embsrrass-
ments, and for that purpose sent him bags Of
coin amounting TO considerable sum. Bald
win took the money, hired negro TO carry the
bags, and then called on his creditor and had
each one In turn grab handful Of coin, without
regard to the amount of his claim, continuing
his queer debt-paying journey until the money
Was exhausted.
Baldwin was U. 8. Marshal for time, butwas
hated. - ss.f - - a. p =
When the Burr expedition failed. Aaron Burr
advised Blennerhasset TO retain for their coun.
sel in their trial for high treason, which they
both expected, Judge Jscob Burnst, Of Cipcin-
natl, and Michael Baldwin, of Chillicothe. The
tsial did not take place, but Blennerhasset wrote
his wife In December, 1907: ~ have retained
Burpet end Baldwin. The former vin be . host
the latter giant Of influence with the rabble" !"
Baldwin died about 1919, and was probably not
more than thirty-five or six years OF age. His
life was freighted with significant point ana M
tovest end unfOrtunatelys his career q by no
means On uncommon one with lawyer who ''live
well, work hard and die poor"
1he orator OF the early ba4 Of Boao 0nnNty
ives Wnliam 6umpter, who ives horn In South
Carolina IN the last decade Of the eighteenth
century. He was speaker of magnetic pres
ence, rare eloQuence and uncommon f0rce. His
reputation was wide, and he was most fire.
Quently referred 70 - the Patrick Henry Of the
West fls!lfff s7'ff
Colonial Gilmore thinks that Murphy vas prob
ably the greaAest orator that this STATE hes ever
produced. Unfortunately none OF his speeches
we're pgoeerved.f Shorthand writing vas not in
vogue, End petuting wee expensive, 20 his fazne
must shsrtly perish. President Tyler, In REQ.
egnstion q 4uphys 1iatinguishsd services q